Holiday Reading

Aknita · Holiday Reading

Do you read on holiday? I always do, and this year was no exception. First of all I finished my two current reads

Keep me Close by Claire Francis

I really enjoyed this, typical of Claire it had the usual twist at the end. The story started with Catherine's awakening from a coma to discover she was paralysed following an attack in her home. Her response to this and the gradual unmasking of her attacker made for very good reading and suspense till the end.

The Island by Victoria Hislop

I finlly finished this. The story of the leper colony of Spinalonga, and it's effects on one family made me cry at the end, and want to find out more about Spinalonga. A very moving book.

The Savage Garden by Mark Mills

A new author for me and although the write up promised much it didn't quite live up to expectations. I didn't care about the characters one way or another. Basically a young Oxford student travels to post war Tuscany to stay with the Docci family and discovers the secret of the their villa's Renaissance garden.

The blurb says "Before this mysterious and beautiful summer ends, Adam will uncover two stories of love, revenge and murder separated by 400 years.....but is another tragedy about to be added to the villa's cursed history?"

A bit of a damp squib.

A Spot of Bother by Mark Hadden

By the author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" this book didn't disappoint. At 57, George is settling down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed in the garden, reading historical novels and listening to a bit of light jazz.

Then his daughter announces she is getting married, much to the family's displeasure, and meanhile George's wife is having an affair with one of George's former work colleagues.

Unoticed in the uproar, George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip, and quietly begins to lose his mind.

It's very good, wry, humerous, sad, exasperating all at the same time.

The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards

128 pages in, this is a beautifully written book. A husband, David, tells his wife that their second born twin died at birth. The baby, a girl, had Down's Syndrome and didn't die at all, but this is America in 1964, and David, a doctor, thought he was protecting his wife as he had lost a sister as a child to heart disease.

His wife, Norah, never quite comes to terms with her loss, and their lives have changed for ever. It's such a sad and thought provoking read.

cazzie

I've been tempted to try the Mark Haddon books but havent got round to them - my claim to fame is that we were at Primary school together Laughing

terri

I've got a spot of bother and the memory keepers daughter on my book shelf waiting patiently for me to get round to them! I've got the island too, but don't fancy it much tbh Confused

Aknita

I have quite an eclectic taste in books terri and will read just about anything. The Island was a Christmas present from Mr A, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it as I may not necessarily have chosen it myself.

Jobo

I absolutely loved The Island and will recommend it to anyone who will listen - its a fantastic book IMO Very Happy

The Claire Frances and Mark Haddon ones sound really good Joy, thanks for the reviews Very Happy

jessica

Thanks for the reviews Joy, I love to read Clare Francis i think she writes so well and also interesting plots. Is this a new one?

Aknita

It was 95p in the Hospice shop Jessica, I've just looked and it was published in 2000.

Woollywarbler

I read The Island whilst in Crete last October, well I had to didn't I? Even though we weren't far away, we never visited Spinalonga (Kalidon) despite being totally smitten with the story.
I bought The Memory Keepers Daughter along with Marley and Me yesterday whilst shopping, so pleased to see you liked it. It'll probably be my next read.
I managed 5 books whilst away this year too, 4 of which were by Harlan Coben. I can never guess his endings no matter how hard I try!

Tracy

Aknita

I read one of his books last year, Just One Look it was called I think. I liked it.

Woollywarbler

Yes that's his, I'm pretty sure I've read that one.
I managed No Second Chance, The Innocent, Gone for Good and Tell No One, all cracking reads and left for me to read on my uncle's coffee table in Spain!

Tracy

terri

I really like harlan coben!!!!
You'll love marley and me, I haven't read it but listened to the unabridged audio book, and it was FAB!!!!! Very Happy